Geomicrobiological Interactions in the Frozen World: Potential for Exobiological Processes
摘要
The study of microorganism-mineral interactions in different geographical environments is known as geomicrobiology. It is concerned with the involvement of microbes in several elemental cycles, mineral transformation, and geochemical processes. Geomicrobiology combines environmental science, geology, chemistry, and microbiology that improve the insights into Earth’s systems. Geomicrobiological interactions reveal the fascinating resilient and adaptablity of life in extreme environments offering insights into potential exobiological processes on icy worlds beyond the Earth. Extremely low temperatures, limited nutrition availability, high pressure, and low liquid water content are characteristics of frozen environments, including Antarctic ice sheets, Arctic permafrost, and glacier ecosystems. Having harsh conditions, a variety of microbes have adapted to survive and exert significant influence in shaping such extreme environments by active participation in various biogeochemical cycles. The possible contribution of microorganisms in chemical weathering is by the production of organic acids that dissolve minerals and release nutrients essential to their survival. The microbial-assisted biogeochemical activity may potentially result in the emergence of new minerals, altering the landscape over time. The interactions between microorganisms and their extreme habitat (frozen) not only demonstrate the adaptability of life but also raise the possibility that life exists in comparable conditions on other planets. A highly fascinating aspect of these studies is the potential for finding life on cold planets and moons like Europa and Enceladus. It is known that many celestial bodies contain seas beneath their frozen crusts, which might provide habitats for life. Geomicrobiological interactions on the Earth in such extreme conditions make it probable that analogous processes may be occurring on these frozen moons.